GLA calls in private-sector expertise to deliver reduction in building energy use
The expertise of Honeywell and Dalkia has been called in by the Greater London Authority to achieve a 25% reduction in energy use in 42 of its buildings.
Energy-service companies Dalkia and Honeywell Building Solutions have been appointed to help deliver a 25% reduction in the energy used by 42 buildings of the Greater London Authority. The announcement by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, makes London the first city on the world to have completed the municipal tender process and appointed a company following a deal developed by the Clinton Climate Initiative for the C40 group of cities at the New York Large Cities Climate Summit in May 2007. The Mayor will also be working with the Clinton Climate Initiative to sign up private-sector business to green their buildings. Dalkia is responsible for 20 buildings owned by the Metropolitan Police Authority and London’s fire brigade. Honeywell will be involved with 22 Transport for London buildings. Under the C40 scheme, a whole group of buildings is offered up for retrofitting in one go, allowing energy-services companies to achieve economics of scale and invest in more expensive, long-term infrastructure such as decentralised energy supply out of the savings from quicker, cheaper measures. London is also working with the C40 cities to help progress the wide introduction of new technologies, whilst reducing the cost of current low-energy and carbon technology by buying in bulk through joint procurements. Ken Livingstone said, ‘Today marks the start of the transformation of London’s buildings from the major source of carbon emissions in the city to a beacon of modern low-carbon efficiency. ‘As nearly three quarters of damaging carbon emissions come from energy used in buildings, improving energy efficiency is probably the single most important thing that we can do to cut carbon emissions. ‘If commercial buildings will also join us, carbon emissions savings could rise to 3.6 Mt each year, about 8% of the capital’s total emissions. That is why I am delighted that Canary Wharf has announced their support for this programme and will start the ball rolling with some of their iconic buildings.’ Dalkia and Honeywell will provide a range of services to reduce carbon emissions from 42 of London’s buildings by 25%. The work will include surveying and auditing the buildings to assess potential carbon savings and then planning and implementing the energy-efficiency measures required to meet the agreed guaranteed energy-savings targets. Energy bills are expected to be reduced by £1 million a year by retrofitting these 42 buildings.
